As
reported by Israel Defense, BAE and IMI have jointly offered IDF a project
involving the acquisition of extended and upgraded M-113 Armored Personnel
Carriers, fitted with an active protection system and passive and reactive
protection The need for the prompt renewal of at least a portion of the
IDF APC fleet is one of the significant lessons derived from the fighting
in the Gaza Strip.

IDF's M113
"Zelda" armored personnel carrier

IDF entered the operation in Gaza with an insufficient amount of protected
Merkava (NAMER) APCs, and were consequently compelled to also employ outdated
M-113 APCs, dating back to the 1970s.

IDF hastened to cancel a planned cut in the manufacture of future NAMER
APCs pursuant to the operation. The NAMER APCs are manufactured as
a joint project with the General Dynamics Company in the USA, with some
of the financing provided through US Aid funds.

During the visit by Defense Minister Ya'alon to the USA in late October
2014, it appeared that IDF will increase by 200 the number of NAMER APCs
originally ordered prior to the war.

According to Israel Defense, the joint proposal of BAE and IMI involves
the renewal and upgrading of APCs in a manner similar to a project recently
completed in Canada. According to the proposal, the old APCs are to be
cut across the middle and extended. At the same time, all of the APC assemblies
are to be replaced, including the engine and the steering system: the
old joystick-driven system will be replaced by a steering-wheel driven
system. The new engine has a 400hp output and this power boost will enable
the fitting of 6 tons of passive and reactive protection, in addition
to an active protection system.

The cost of the upgrading process can be significantly lower than the
cost of a new NAMER
APC, which is estimated at around US$ 5 million, but according to
the proposal submitted to the IDF Ground Arm, the upgrading project is
just a "complementary project" to the planned acquisition of
the NAMER APCs. IDF are to review the proposal over the coming weeks.